Properties of an adjustable quarter-wave system under condition of multiple beam interference

TL;DR

This paper investigates the polarimetric properties of an adjustable two-plate quarter-wave system considering multiple beam interference, demonstrating its ability to produce high-quality circularly polarized laser light with high ellipticity.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of the system's properties accounting for multiple beam interference and experimentally demonstrates effective polarization conversion using mica plates.

Findings

Different adjustments are required for left- and right-handed circular polarization.

High-quality circularly polarized light with ellipticity > 0.99 was achieved.

Multiple beam interference significantly influences the system's polarimetric behavior.

Abstract

The polarimetric properties of an adjustable two plate quarter-wave system have been investigated. Multiple beam interference within single wave-plates has been taken into account. It has been shown that different adjustments are needed to produce left-handed and right-handed circular polarized coherent light. Laser light polarization conversion by the systems consisting of two birefringent mica plates has been investigated experimentally. The high-quality circularly polarized light with the intensity-related ellipticity higher than 0.99 has been produced.